Voting Recommendations for 2014

SUBHEAD: Island Breath picks for Kauai for the election on 11/4/14 in the 14th, 15th, 16th Precincts.

[IB Publisher's note 10/27/14: We have made a few modifications to this article since it was first published on 10/14. We now suggest voting for four County Council member including Mason Chock. We have added our support for Mililani Trask for OHA At Large Trustee, and now do not favor any of the Kauai County Charter amendments.]

US Senator:Brian Schatz
(Looking for growth economy and expanded tourism. Old school Democrat. Schatz is supported by the Sierra Club. )

US Representative:Tulsi Gabbard
(Interested in growing local food and supports GMO labeling. Does not support fast tracking Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Gabbard is supported by the Sierra Club.)

Governor and Lieutenant Governor:Jeff Davis (Gov) and Cynthia Marlin (Lt Gov)
(Davis, a Libertarian, is sharply opposed to GMO agriculture. He is concerned with local food security and for legalization of recreational marijuana)

State Representative, District 14:Portion of Hanalei District (Haena, Hanalei, Princeville, Kealia, Kawaihau, Kapaa)No One
(We do not support Derek Kawakami. He's running as a Democrat. He is a political hack in bed with Ron Kouchi)

State Representative, District 15:Portion of Kawaihau District (Waipouli); portion of Lihue District (Wailua, Hanamaulu, Lihue, Puhi); portion of Koloa District (portion of Omao)

No One
(We do not support Jimmy Tokioka. He's running as a Democrat. He is a political hack in bed with Ron Kouchi)

Relating to Disclosure of Judicial Nominees
Shall the judicial selection commission, when presenting a list of nominees to the governor or the chief justice to fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court, circuit courts or district courts, be required , at the same time, to disclose that list to the public?
We recommend a Yes vote, in favor of more public disclosure.Relating to Agricultural Enterprises
Shall the State be authorized to issue special purpose revenue bonds and use the proceeds from the bonds to assist agricultural enterprises on any type of langd, rather thatn only important agricultural lands?

We recommend a No vote, because we're afraid the state would use this to fund GMO companies, or Big Ag, rather than small, sustainable, organic farmers.

Relating to State Justices and Judges
Shall the mandatory retirement age for all state court justices and judges be increase from seventy to eighty years of age?
We recommend a Yes vote.

Relating to Early Childhood Education
Shall the appropriation of public funds be permitted for the support or benefit of private early childhood education programs that shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex or ancestry, as provided by law?

We recommend a No vote. If there is public funding for preschool, it should go to public preschools, not private (and often religious) preschools.

Relating to Dams and Reservoirs
Shall the State be authorized to issue special purpose revenue bonds and use the proceeds from the bonds to offer loans to qualifying dam and reservoir owners to improve their facilitities to protect public safety and provide significant benefit to the general public as important water sources?

We recommend a No vote. We would rather the State put the money into better inspection of dams. We are afraid this would encourage private developers and landowners to build more dams and reservoirs, thinking there would be public funding for upkeep. Better we require

Proposed Amendments to the Kauai County Charter: Relating to the Department of Personnel Services
Shall the Department of Personnel Services be changed to the Department of Human Resources, with additional human resources functions?

We recommend a No vote. This agency will cost taxpayers, and take personnel decisions like hiring, firing, and salaries, out of the hands of the experts in the individual departments, and put them in the hands of this board. "This takes a whole list of powers away
from the Civil Service Commission and give them to the newly renamed
Director of Human Resources who is appointed by the mayor." - Andy Parx.

Relating to Charter Amendment
Shall the county be allowed to publish summaries of charter amendments or a new charter in a newspaper of general circulation and entire text on the official website of the County of Kauai?